When wideout Todd Kiechle approached the line of scrimmage on the Watertown Red and Black's first punt play of the second quarter, there was nobody there to cover him. He was so shocked that he realigned himself in order to protect against a block.

So, imagine his surprise when on Watertown's next possession, after going three and out, he again lined up wide with nobody in front of him. This time, he stayed right where he was and it paid off when Al Countryman faked the punt, and instead fired a spiral to Kiechle, who raced 60 yards and hurdled the only would-be tackler on his way to a touchdown.

The trick play did more than just give Watertown a 13-point edge 10 minutes before halftime, it kept the Scranton Eagles defense off balance for the rest of the night, and the Red and Black used that advantage to post a 34-6 Empire Football League victory Saturday at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds.

Watertown improved its overall record to 8-4 and it closed out the regular season with an 8-2 EFL mark. The Red and Black are now set to host either the Montreal Titans or the Broome County Dragons in an opening round playoff game next week.

Countryman fooled the Eagles (4-6) on several other occasions, too. With under a minute to go in the first half, Doug Black connected with Brian Beltz on a 24-yard scoring strike. On the extra-point attempt, Countryman caught the snap and tossed the ball to a wide-open Kenny Anderson for at two-point conversion. Sure, the Eagles' special teams unit was able to apply some pressure, but in the process they blitzed themselves right out of the game. Duped for a second time, Scranton didn't attempt another blitz the whole game.

"The trick plays were nothing planned," said Countryman, who scampered for a one-yard touchdown and rushed for 38 yards. "We just took what they gave us. They brought both corners so I just dumped the ball to Kiechle, and he made a great run.

"(Anderson) said his guy was rushing hard (on the extra point), and said he'd be open."

The school-yard shenanigans started in the first quarter for Watertown. A reverse play to Beltz yielded a 15-yard gain and set up Countryman's scoring run. The Scranton defense also didn't have an answer for Watertown's arsenal of misdirection running plays, on which the running backs would cut back against the blocks of the offensive line.

"We knew we'd have to mix it up," Countryman said. "Doug (Black) called a great game, as usual, and the defense played great. You can't ask for more from them."

Watertown's defense forced four turnovers en route to the team's sixth consecutive win. Brian Williams returned a third quarter interception 47 yards to set up the first of two touchdown runs by James Todd. Todd dashed eight yards for a score on the next play to give Watertown a 28-0 lead and he added an 11-yard touchdown journey in the fourth.

Black completed 15-of-36 attempts for 165 yards. Watertown's offensive play calling and the efficiency with which they moved the ball produced the most balanced effort of the season. And it didn't matter who was on the field for the home team.

"We have starters and we have backup role players," head coach George Ashcraft said. "This team is so full of ability that the backup guys can go in and get the job done. We're just playing great ball."

Andre Chollete provided Scranton's only touchdown on a running play from a yard away. The score was set up by a thunderous 42-yard jaunt by Bill Sandly. It was much too late, though, for the touchdown to be a factor.

Lynn Patrick led the defense with eight tackles while Lorenzo Sanchez contributed five tackles and a fumble recovery. Kyle Roshia and Lamont Lane also made interceptions for Watertown.

One of the most successful franchises in the history of the Empire Football League visits the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds tonight to take on the Watertown Red and Black.

Since their inception in 1982, the Scranton Eagles have claimed 10 EFL championships, the most recent one being in 1999. Twenty-five years have passed since the Red and Black last earned the right to be called league champion.

Those facts, though, are irrelevant side notes, as far as the teams are concerned. The reality of tonight's game actually breaks down quite simply. The Red and Black has locked up the No. 3 seed in the EFL playoffs that begin Saturday. For the Eagles, well, this game will be their last. Scranton, currently one game behind the Montreal Titans in the standings, have no shot at the sixth-and-final playoff berth. The Titans receive a forfeit victory this week and will finish the season 6-4. Even with a win, the Eagles (4-5) would end the regular season at 5-5.

Red and Black head coach George Ashcraft knows that the Eagles would like nothing more than to give Watertown (7-4, 7-2) a few lumps heading into the postseason. Ashcraft said he has a strong feeling that his team's leaders won't allow for a letdown following last week's emotional 44-14 beating of the Lake City Stars.

"The veterans already know what Scranton is capable of," Ashcraft said. "They are a quality ball team. We're not taking them lightly by any means."

Scranton, an EFL member since '82, dominated the Red and Black for practically an entire generation. Prior to Watertown's 31-0 win over Scranton in 1996, the Eagles had bettered the Red and Black 19 times in a row.

But, history is history, and more than getting even for past defeats, Ashcraft wants to keep alive the charge that has led his team to five consecutive wins.

"We don't want any kind of letdown going into the playoffs," he said, "and any time you beat a team with such a great history it feels good."

The Eagles are coming off a big win, too, after beating St. Lawrence Valley last week 37-14. Running back Bill Sandly is the third-leading rusher in the league, averaging 5.9 yards per carry.

Though his statistics have been mediocre this year - he is seventh in total passing yards and has completed half of his pass attempts while tossing just five interceptions - Ashcraft said the defense will take extra care to keep track of Eagles veteran quarterback John Kennedy. Kennedy was instrumental in Scranton's 19-game win streak over Watertown, according to Ashcraft.

"This guy is an awesome quarterback," he said. "He makes things happen. We won't rest easy until after the game."

Wash leads league's receivers

Veteran Watertown wide receiver Earnest Wash is again among the leading receivers in the EFL. Wash is the league leader in touchdowns scored with eight, after catching two in last week's victory.

Tied for the league lead in receptions with 36, Wash is second in receiving yards with 513.

Revenge can be so sweet.

The Watertown Red and Black knew it was a different team Saturday night than the one that was embarrassed by the Lake City Stars in a July 23 exhibition. Lake City appears to be, too, after Watertown's 44-14 drubbing of the Stars in an Empire Football League game at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds.

"I've said it all season, when this team finally decides to play together, it will be hard to beat us," said Red and Black head coach George Ashcraft.

He couldn't have been more accurate.

Watertown's defense swarmed and its offense operated with precision in its fifth straight victory. The Red and Black improved its overall record to 7-4 overall, 7-2 EFL.

Doug Black tossed four touchdown passes while completing 14-of-28 attempts. Black found Earnest Wash and Brian Beltz two times each for scores and finished with 193 yards through the air.

"This was our best game of the season," said Wash, whose five receptions covered 65 yards. Wash said that the defense was the heart of his team Saturday night. "The defense pretty much set the tempo, (the offense) just fell in line."

Lake City's offense was rendered useless and played at the mercy of the Red and Black's defensive unit all game long. Mike Dumaw led the charge with nine tackles and two interceptions. Ben Pritchchard, Lynn Patrick and Dylan Kirker racked up five tackles apiece to give the Red and Black the spark it has been looking for all season.

"We had a hell of a ball game," said Brian Podvin, who made a crucial stop on a two-point conversion attempt in the second quarter. "We controlled the tempo and everybody came together. Football is fun when it's like that."

Lake City (7-4, 6-3) managed one interception - Ron Fisher caught a tipped pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown with just over a minute left in the first half.

Black couldn't have asked for more from his supporting cast. His blockers provided enough time for Black to throw the ball to his third or fourth options. The receivers had sure hands and made tough catches in heavy traffic.

For much of the game the Stars' defense seemed confused by what Watertown was doing on offense.

"Their defense didn't adjust well to our shifting and misdirections," said assistant coach David Parker.

Said Black: "I was going to my second and third receivers, going through reads and not keying on receivers."

The Stars didn't do much to help themselves, either. They committed nine penalties in the game, including three personal fouls and two unsportsmanlike conduct citations. In the second quarter, Lake City had a 55-yard gain negated due to a personal foul. Head coach Ed McCallister, who was flagged in the second quarter for going on to the field to dispute an official's call, had no comment following the game.

Watertown wore down the Stars as time in the second half elapsed. Black and Co. put together a string of seven consecutive first downs en route to a Beltz touchdown in the third.

Al Countryman rushed 23 times for 69 yards and a touchdown to keep the Stars guessing. Anthony Noel accounted for 42 yards on the ground. The Stars appeared intimidated by Watertown's power running game. Wash was left wide open on a play-action pass in the second quarter. The play gave the Red and Black a 16-0 lead and set the tone for the rest of the night.

Linebacker John Check said that an adjustment during last week's game against St. Lawrence Valley set up this week's overpowering performance. "Some veterans suggested we switch to a 4-4 (formation)," Check said. "We've got the linebackers who can play the run well plus drop back in coverage if we have to. Guys are more relaxed, having fun."

The lopsided score also surprised some players. "I didn't think the score would be like that, it never stopped," Check said.

"I didn't expect a game like that after how we struggled up there," Black added.

Watertown basically wrapped up third place with the win and will most likely host a playoff game on Oct. 1.

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Lake City Stars at Watertown Red and Black

When, where: 7:30 p.m., today, Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds.

Records: Watertown (6-4 overall, 6-2 EFL); Plattsburgh (7-3, 6-2).

Last meeting: July 23 (exhibition), Lake City won, 27-12.

Notes: Watertown can take sole possession of third place with a victory. ... The Red and Black hasn't lost since Aug. 6, at Orange County. ... Watertown is averaging 32.3 points per game in its last three wins. ... Stars QB Eddie Castine has completed just 44 percent of his pass attempts for 387 yards this season. Castine has thrown only one interception, however. ... Both teams' only losses are to Albany and Orange County.

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St. Lawrence Valley Trailblazers vs. Scranton Eagles

When, where: 7:30 p.m., today; Scranton Memorial Stadium, Scranton.

Records: St. Lawrence Valley (3-7, 2-6 EFL); Scranton (3-5).

During tonight's Empire Football League game against the Lake City Stars, the Watertown Red and Black will find out if they truly are one of the EFL's best.

Basking in the glory of a four-game win streak, the Red and Black appears to be, once again, among the elite teams in the league.

Three of those victories, however, have come against St. Lawrence, Valley, Broome County and Montreal - each of which is below Watertown in the standings. With two forfeit wins, Watertown's only other victory was in its opener against Ottawa.

The teams that lost to the Red and Black have a combined record that is 13-20. The league's top three teams - Albany, Orange County and Lake City - have already dealt Watertown convincing losses this season.

So, in addition to having the chance of taking a huge stride toward hosting at least one home playoff game, the Red and Black has a golden opportunity to legitimize its recent success.

"We all knew this game was coming down the stretch," veteran Al Countryman said. "That's not a knock to any other teams but each game was a building block to this."

Tonight's game will most likely determine third place in the league as Albany and Orange County have all but locked up first and second places, respectively.

"We pretty much got our butts handed to us last time (by Lake City)," Countryman said. "We'll give it our best shot and hopefully get a better outcome this time."

Head coach George Ashcraft also believes that his team can put the memory a rocky start to the season in the past with a win tonight.

"We're one of the best teams in this league, barring turnovers and if we play a full 60 minutes," Ashcraft said. "We've played together enough now that we've gotten over that hump."

The Stars were on the better end of a 27-12 exhibition between the two teams on July 23. The game didn't count but it was eye-opening. The Stars exposed a then weak Watertown secondary, scoring touchdowns on three long pass plays.

For the most part, Watertown had taken care of its pass defense issues, until veteran Jon Fisher suffered a broken leg in a victory over Broome County. The injury will likely keep Fisher on the sidelines for the rest of the season and the question marks surrounding the secondary have returned. New personnel, new schemes and improvement in overall performance have helped to ease the blow of losing Fisher.

"If the secondary can prevent the big play, the linebackers and D-line should be able to take care of things," Countryman said.

And if it seems like it's been an eternity since the Red and Black hosted a game at the Fairgrounds, it's only been 35 days. After forfeits, byes and plenty of road games, the team is anxious to play on its home field, and in front of a usually enthusiastic home crowd.

POTSDAM - St. Lawrence Valley coach Mike Britton wasn't having flashbacks, but three players he knows too well kept his Trailblazers from scoring an upset win Saturday.

Doug Black tossed two touchdowns passes to Earnie Wash, and John Check's blocked punt and fumble recovery in the end zone was enough to give the Watertown Red and Black a 21-14 win in an Empire League Football showdown at Sandstoner Park.

The Trailblazers (3-7, 2-6 EFL) pounced on Watertown early, but Britton knew the momentum could subside.

"We jumped out on them, but we knew they were going to come back," Britton said. "They're too good of a team."

The Red and Black (6-4, 6-2 EFL) did have time off, but still came in on a three-game winning streak. The team struggled to find its rhythm early on in the game.

"We haven't played a game in three weeks," wide receiver Earnie Wash said. "I contribute it to rust and underestimating the defense."

An aggressive St. Lawrence Valley defense made Black anxious in the pocket. On the first Watertown possession, a tipped pass was hauled in and returned 13 yards by James Compeau for the opening score.

"We put the pressure on Doug, and I think he was rattled a little," linebacker Norm Martel said. "He wasn't finding his receivers."

Britton, known for his offensive mind, dug in with a trick play two possessions later. A 49-yard reverse touchdown pass from Joe Hutchinson to Dan Staton gave the Trailblazers their largest lead of the season at 14-0.

Holding on to a comfortable lead, the St. Lawrence Valley defense relaxed, opening the door for Black. He connected with Wash for a 5-yard touchdown, cutting the lead in half.

"Once we figured it out, we got rolling," Wash said. "It was just like old times."

Watertown then marched 92 yards down the field in 50 seconds, culminating in a 19-yard touchdown pass from Black to Wash just before halftime.

"That connection has been there since I was a coach there," Britton said. "It's nothing unusual, something I'm very familiar with. I knew when it happened, you could tell."

With the Trailblazers buried deep in their own territory, Check, a linebacker, broke free and blocked a Joule Robinson punt. Check recovered the ball in the end zone.

"You've got to win in all three parts of the game," Britton said. "You've got to be strong offensively, defensively and special teams."

Watertown's defense shut down the Trailblazers' running game in the second half and pressured quarterback Dave Currier to toss several incompletions. As St. Lawrence Valley inches closer in the rivalry, the Red Black realizes Saturday's game was a pivotal win.

Two teams, two agendas.

The Watertown Red and Black and the St. Lawrence Valley Trailblazers are aware of the hype surrounding the Route 11 rivalry. But both squads are concentrating on different tasks in the Empire Football league matchup today at Sandstoner Park.

The Red and Black (5-4 overall, 5-2 EFL) is battling for home-field advantage in the playoffs. The team is tied for third with the Lake City (Plattsburgh) Stars in the league standings. But the Trailblazers (3-6, 2-5 EFL) are playing for pride, hoping to corral their first win against their proximate foe. St. Lawrence Valley would need to win its last three games and get some help to make the playoffs. For the Trailblazers, it's a good time to play the spoiler.

"You'd like to see that turn in the rivalry," Trailblazers coach Mike Britton said. "The guys are preparing for it as if it were a playoff battle. But no game is easy, and I'm sure Watertown realizes that, too."

"I don't look at it as a rivalry," Red and Black coach George Ashcraft said. "I see it as our closest opponent to home. We're good friends. But a game at hand is still a game, and you play to win. For a few hours, you put everything on the back burner and just play the game."

Watertown has outscored the Trailblazers 272-58 in three seasons, but the Red and Black players know what to expect once they step between the white lines.

"They've become more competitive and a better team in the past couple years," Watertown quarterback Doug Black said. "We just have to keep doing what we're doing. We have to keep moving the ball downfield and put points on the board."

However, there is no bad blood between these teams. In fact, there's plenty of respect that's handed out.

"We've got to be careful against players like Doug Black, Al Countryman and Earnie Wash," Britton said. "Those guys are all-league every year. Eventually all three of them will be in the Hall of Fame, whether it's Watertown or national in the American Football Association."

"We can't let their offense pick us apart," Trailblazers linebacker Cheyenne Dashnaw said. "(Doug) is a really good quarterback. Most quarterbacks in this league, you can read them. With Doug, he reads off his receivers. He's very experienced."

"We're not taking St. Lawrence Valley lightly by any means," Ashcraft said. "I think Coach Britton will put together some things that will work for him against us. He does a great job up there."

Of those still on Watertown's roster, close to 20 players played for Britton at one time when he was the offensive coordinator for the Red and Black.

"It's great playing against our former coach," Black said. "It's different seeing him on the other sideline. We had a great offense with him for years."

Linebacker John Check played for Britton as a varsity football player at Immaculate Heart Central.

"You always want to produce against your former coach," Check said.

St. Lawrence Valley's offense showed signs of life against the Stars two weeks ago. Fullback Rob Scott believes the offense needs to produce in order for the Trailblazers to be victorious.

"Hopefully, we can get the offense going this week," Scott said. "We haven't had it a lot this year. For them, you know they're going to blitz. They've got a lot of strong players on the defensive side of the ball."

Check said the defense is planning accordingly against a strategic Britton.

"Defensively, we've been working with the defensive backfield," Check said. "We brought in some guys that are helping at that position when we could've used it earlier in the year. But Mike Britton can make you look foolish out there."

Rivalry aside, both teams are optimistic about taking care of business.

"I don't think there are any feelings from last year that will carry over," Ashcraft said. "We have to be prepared. We've got a good mix of veterans and new people. As of right now, I'm as pleased with this team at this part of the season as I have with any other team I've had in my 15 years of coaching."

"We don't plan on changing our game plan at all," Britton said. "Our guys will come to play football."